Pros and Cons of Garage Gym Ownership
Who wouldn't love working out with their dog?
Since the early days of COVID, I have been a garage gym guy. My former roommate and training partner was smart; as soon as things started shutting down, he purchased a squat rack, barbell, and plates. We were lucky enough to beat the massive uptick in demand which, coupled with the supply chain shutdown, led to higher prices from equipment companies and straight-up price gouging on the resale market. We picked up some horse stall mats to serve as flooring from Tractor Supply Co, and we were off.
We threw it all in the detached, one-car garage of our Fort Benning home. There was no electricity, so we’d use battery-powered lanterns and closet lights to illuminate our 0400 lifting sessions; this was our norm before heading to work for unit PT at 0600.
I’m now in a different stage of life–I’m no longer in the military, I share a house with my fiancée, and I don’t work out at 4AM–but the garage gym is still going strong. I have a four-post power rack with pull-up bars, a dip bar attachment, and a small pulley for accessory exercises. I have a barbell, a trap bar, 530lbs of plates, and a couple of flat benches. I have some adjustable dumbbells that go from 10 to 50lbs, a 45-degree back extension, a landmine attachment for rows and presses, and a few other toys. I even have a 110lb sled that I haven’t pushed or pulled around in quite some time. While there are a few other things I’d like to add to my space, I definitely have more than enough to execute a quality strength program.
However, I do still go to a gym once a week. The main purpose of this is to work in-person with my coach, but I also enjoy other aspects of being in the gym. For one, it’s nice to spend some time with other like-minded individuals. Additionally, I enjoy the opportunity to use specialty barbells and other pieces of equipment that I don’t have in my own gym.
Ultimately, if I weren’t working with a coach, I would likely do all of my training at home; with that being said, garage gym ownership might not be for everyone. Without further ado, here are my observed pros and cons to garage gym ownership.
Pros
Convenience: I don’t have to spend any time or gas driving to the gym when I lift at home. Furthermore, I don’t have to pack a breakfast or wait for a shower to make sure I’m fed and bathed before work.
Freedom: There are no rules (for me) in my garage gym. Nobody can tell me not to throw chalk or sniff ammonia. I don’t have to wear shoes. Come to think of it, I don’t really have to wear anything–provided I keep the garage door down. I can play the music I want to hear out loud on a bluetooth speaker rather than carry headphones or be subjected to someone else’s choice of music.
Financial Control: Of course, having a garage gym is not free. However, it’s nice to know that everything I have is mine–I don’t have to spend any more money unless I want a new piece of equipment. I don’t get a bill every month for working out, I just have to pay my mortgage and power bill. I’m sure I save a couple hundred bucks a year on gas as well.
Equipment: I don’t have to ask the gym owner to buy a new bar or machine for the gym; if I really want something, I just buy it. I also don’t have to deal with the nuisance of lazy or disrespectful gym members not putting things away or breaking my equipment – I see both of these atrocities in the gym I go to weekly.
Privacy: This goes along with the freedom bullet above, but I have the gym all to myself, unless I invite somebody over to train. I put my phone on Do Not Disturb and get the job done.
Cons
Startup Costs: While you can potentially save money in the long run, you do have to bite the bullet and buy the necessary equipment for your home workouts. That looks different for everybody, but there are definitely a few essentials for a powerlifter. I have probably spent between $2200 and $2600, if I had to guess, on my garage gym over the past 2.5 years. Again, I have more than enough equipment to get meaningful strength training in. I could’ve likely said no to a few things, gone cheaper on a few things, and been closer to $1000 total. Another consideration for home gym ownership is that you probably want to test out pieces of equipment before spending hundreds of dollars on them. In that case, I think it’s worth it to buy a day-pass to a local gym that has the equipment you’re interested in.
Safety: Exercise, specifically lifting heavy weights, has inherent risk involved. There are ways to mitigate that risk level, such as using safety bars while squatting or benching inside of a power rack, but the bottom line is that lifting at home is not as safe as being in a gym with other people, a first aid kit, and an AED present. Be cautious if you plan to lift at home.
Community: Here is one of the main reasons why I do really enjoy the one training session per week I do at a public gym. The community and culture of that gym are phenomenal, and spending time with lifters there is a pleasant experience. With that being said, you can always invite people to train with you in your gym.
